Papermaking machine



INVENTOR ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1940. H. KUTTER V PAPERMAKING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 8, 1 940 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

PAPERMAKING MACHINE Herman L. Kutter, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to The Black-Clawson Company, Hamilton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 2, 1938, Serial No. 2o5,444

4 Claims. (01. 92-43) This invention relates to papermaking machina wall l5 which, together with the side walls of ery, the vat, provides a flow passage l6 through which One object of the invention is the provision of the stock at a suitable depth is supplied to the a simple and eflicient arrangement of reciproforming mold. I 5 eating plates in the how passage through which At the top of the wall l5 and below the upper 5 the stock of a papermaking machine flows to the surface I! of the stock supply is a series of reforming wire adapted to impart reciprocatory ciprocating blades or plates is which are vibrated. movement to the stock so as to effectively separate in the direction of the length of the series at a the individual fibers one from another before the comparatively high rate and with a suitable small 10 stock fibers are applied to the forming wire, and travel so that the stock fibers, just before they are 10 producing an even parallel stock flow on the formapplied to the forming mold, are shaken loose ing wire. and separated one from another, providing a stock Another object of the invention is the provision consistency which will be uniform throughout and of an arrangement of the character mentioned in in which the various individual fibers will be po- 5 which the plates are mounted on a common supsitioned inrandom arrangements, each fiber being porting member which is vibrated in the direction separated by a small space from adjacent fibers. of length of the blade series, the plate formation The plates l9 are preferably metal sheets of about and its support being such that the retention of 1%" thickness, preferably of stainless steel and stock fibers on the blade edges or between adjahaving a Sp c ng o e Order Of about e cent blades is prevented. series of plates extends throughout the entire 20 Another object of the invention is the provision Width .of the flow passage i 6. of a reciprocatory plate construction for the flow The plates l9 extend parallel to the general dipassage of a papermaking machine, in which rection of stock flow through passage 16, while the yieldable resilient fillerpieces are employed belower ends of the plates are preferably flanged tween the plates at the ends of the series and the laterally as indicated at 20, these flanged portions 25 adjacent portions of the flow passage, providing being welded or fixed in a similar manner to a a uniform distribution of stock at the end of the plate 2i which is hired to the upper side of the sheet produced on the forming wire. connecting member 22 which is preferably a metal Other objects and advantages of the invention casting. The connecting member 22 to which-all will be apparent from the following description,- of the plates of the series are connected is sup- 30 the appended claims, and the accompanying ported for movement in the direction of length oi.

drawings, in which the series on a support 24 rigidly bolted or secured Fig. 1 is an end elevation, partly in section on to the wall portion 25 of the vat. This wall'porthe line l-,l of Fig. 2, and showing a portion of tion is preferably mounted in a detachable mana cylinder mold machine embodying the present ner on a supporting structure including a beam 35 invention; 26 which extends transversely across the vat from Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cylinder maone side wall to the other. Bolts 21 serve to faschine, a part being shown in section on the line ten the wall portion 25 to the side walls of the 22 of Fig. 1; vat.

40 Fi 3 is Sectional V On 8; Small Scale, of Between the common connecting member 22 on 40 the cylinder mold ac e corresponding 110 Figswhich the plates are carried, and the upper side 1 and 2; v of the support 24 are a number of supporting de- Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through the vices providing for movement of the member 22, head box and breast roll of a Fourdrinier machine and preferably comprising rubber blocks vulcanembodying the present invention; ized to upper and lower metal strips 29 and 30, 45

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and these strips being respectively attached by suit- Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the head able screws or the like to the downward projecbox of amodified form of Fourdrinier machine. tions 3| of the common connecting member 22 Referring to the drawings by reference nuand upward projections 32 of the support 24.

merals, and more particularly to Fi s. 1 to 3 in- The rubber blocks are thick enough to afford 50 elusive, iii generally designates the vat and II the movement of the member 22 through a travel of rotatable forming screen of a papermaking maat least one-fourth inch in the direction of the chine of the cylinder mold type. The stock is suplength of the series. Yieldable strips 33 and 34, plied to the chamber l2 in the vatfrom the uppreferably of rubber, are connected at their upwardly extending passagev l3 and over the top of per and lower 'edges by means of metal securing 66 lower portions to the support 24. Between each of the sheets 31 and. the adjacent end wall 38 of the vat is a rather thick filler piece 39, preferably of sponge rubber, these filler pieces also extending between the end plates IQ of the series and the vat walls 38, the filler pieces at their upper portions being coextensive with the plates IS. The filler pieces 39 may expand and contract as the blades are vibrated between the end walls 38 of the vat, and serve to provide an even, regular flow of stock at the ends of the series of plates, preventing the creation of rapid streams or jets at the very ends of the series that might otherwise be produced by the change in distance between the movable end plates and the stationary walls 38.

Vibratorygmovement is imparted to the connecting member 22 by means of a reciprocating flexible metal strap 40 operated preferably from an eccentric 4| which is rotated about an axis 42 by means of suitable gearing arranged in a speed reducing gear casing 43. An electric motor 44 or the like operates the speed reducing gearing, the arrangement thus producing a reciprocatory movement of the rod 40 at a rate of the order of from 600 to 1500 cycles per minute, and with a stroke of from%" to or less, it being understood that the higher speeds and smaller strokes are employed when the speed of the forming wire is highest. The end of the strap 40 is secured to a coupling member 45 which is adapted to reciprocate endwise in an opening 46 in the wall of the vat. Coupling member 45 is secured to a connecting fiange 41 that forms a part of the common connecting member 22. At the opposite end of the connecting member 22 is a second downwardly extending flange 48 which is slidable on a supporting stud 49. The stud 49 is fixed to the side wall of the vat and projects through holes in the rubber sheet 31 and filler piece 39. It will thus be apparent that the entire blade series may be vibrated rapidly in the direction of the length of the series between the fixed side walls 38 of the vat, with suitable filling pieces between the ends of the series and the vat walls alternately compressing and expanding at the opposite sides of the vat and preventing disturbing jets or rapid local streams of stock at the ends of the series.

The upstream edges of the various plates I9 are arranged at a suitable small angle to the general direction of flow of stock towards those edges so that the stock fibers will not be accumulated or piled up on those edges but will be carried along by the flow and swept up to the top of the blades due tothe relatively small angle between the upstream edges of the blades and the direction of stock flow towards those edges. The tops of the blades are below but close to the upper surface I! of the stock so that the entire Width and height of the stock supply passage IE will be affected by the vibratory movement of the blades. The uppermost points of the plates are arranged slightly below the surface I! so that any stock fibers that may strike against and climb along the upstream edge of a blade will be carried along with the stock flow after reaching a point just below the surface of the stock. Since the common supporting member at the bottom of the series of plates forms the sole supporting means for the plates, and the space between the plates above their bottom edges is quite free of any bolts or rods on which stock might pile up and accumulate, there is no obstruction extending across the stock flow on which an accumulation of stock fibers can take place. Stock fibers tend to accumulate or lodge in a thin layer on a stationary surface even though it is a flat surface substantially parallel to the line of fiow, and then peel off, after building up sufiiciently, and flow to the forming wire as a thick collection or bundle of fibers and produce an uneven sheet. However in accordance with the present invention the plates are very rapidly vibrated and any substantial accumulation on the surface of the plates is thus prevented, and any bundles or thick collections of fibers that may pass to or through the series of plates is shaken apart and the fibers separated before such collections flow past the plates. And due to the rapid vibratory movement imparted to the plates and the manner in which the plates are arranged so as to straighten the flow and prevent the formation of cross or eddy currents in the stock, a very even, straight flow of stock is produced where the stock meets the forming wire.

The plates l9 project from the wall portion of the vat on which they are mounted towards the downturning side of the cylinder mold and preferably reach to a point rather closely adjacent but slightly spaced from the forming mold, as shown in Fig. 1, so that these overhanging portions of the plates will be effective on the stock just before the stock is applied to the screen. The fibers are thus freed and separated from one another just before they are applied to the-screen, and will be arranged in random positions to produce a sheet which will be comparatively high in strength crosswise of the sheet. The blades are preferably bulged or grooved as indicated at 50'. with the grooves extending substantially parallel to the direction of stock fiow so that the overhanging or projecting portions of the blades will be sufficiently rigid to prevent any substantial flexing movements of the blades themselves.

In accordance with the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which oscillatable blades are.

shown in the supply box of a Fourdrinier type of papermaking machine, 50 designates the breast roll and 5| the s pply box from which the stock is supplied to the reast roll. The box 5| is preferably arranged to provide a substantial head of stock, being shown with an inlet passage 52 extending downwardly and communicating with an upwardly extending passage 53 in which the stock is maintained at a level as indicated at 54' a considerable distance above the forming screen. The stock flows in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 4 and is affected by the vibrating series of plates 54 in the flow passage 55 in a zone just ahead of the outlet orifice 56 from which the stock flows onto the forming wire which is conducted around the breast roll 50. The upper lip 51 of the orifice is preferably adjustable in a vertical direction by means of a series of adjustably positioned rods 58 to provide an even level flow. The plates 54 extend substantially the full length and width of the passage 55 in the supply box so that all portions of the stock are afiected by the vibratory plates, freein the individual fibers that may have collected in a loose group and arranging the fibers more or less in random positions as the fibers leave the plates and flow to the orifice 58.

Since the plates are very rapidly vibrated, an even sheet isproduced since all portions of the stock above the forming wire are travelling at substantially'the same speed and in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the wire, crossing and eddy currents being eliminated. If the blades were stationary there would be a tendency for thestock to fiow at a slower rate of speed at the points in alignment with stationary plates arranged parallel to the direction of flow, producing markings on the sheet in line with the plate positions, but where the plates are very rapidly vibrated transversely to the direction which the stock is 'fiowing, the flow is evened up throughout the entire width of the sheet and no markings on the sheet will be present.

The plates 54 as herein shown'are supported only along their longer edges, which arefixed in a common connecting and carrying member 59, preferably in the form of a molded hard rubber block. The upper surface of the block, between adjacent blades, forms a smooth surface 80 which is a continuation of the wall portions 8| and 52 of the flow passage 55. This carrying block 59 is mounted on yieldable rubber blocks 88 which are spaced apart about every two feet or so across the width of the supply box in a chamber 84, the rubber blocks being vulcanized or otherwise secured to metal plates 85 which are screwed to the connecting block59 and to the stationary supporting portions 88 of the box stock fibers instead of piling up and accumulating on the upstream edges of the plates will be pushed or carried along until they reach the outermost terminal portions 88 of the plates, which is a comparatively small. distance from the wall 89. In view of the space between the wall 89 and the terminal portions 88 of the blades, the fibers will be promptly carried through this space and cannot accumulate on the blades.

Reciprocatory movement is imparted to the carrying block 59 by means of a rod 10 fixed to and provided within the carrying block and projecting through the end walls II of the flow box. The end of the rod 10 is connected by means of a flexible operating strap 12 to the eccentric 13 which is rotated through suitable speed reduction gearing provided in the gear chamber 14,

produced onthe forming wire.

sheets 18 the peripheral portions of which are securely fastened by means of a frame plate 19 to the walls of the flow passage. The middle por-' tions of the flexible sheet 18 are connected by metal plates to the rods 10, thus sealing the side walls of the flow passage against leakage of liquid,'whlle supporting the series of plates freely for movement in the direction of length of the series. The upper and lower ends of the carrying block 59 are sealed against the leakage of liquid to the adjacent wall portions 6| and 62 of the flow passage, by means of suitable sealing members 82 which are fixed in place on the walls of the fiow box and which bear against themoving portions of the carrying block 59.

Fig. 6 shows ,a modified form of construction for use in a Fourdrinier machine in which the stock is supplied at comparatively small head to the forming wire. The stock supply passage 85 is supplied with stock to a suitable level as indicated at 86, the stock flowing in the direction of the arrows indicated in that figure so that the stock meets the upwardly inclined edges 81 of the plates 88 at a comparatively small angle such that the stock fibers will be washed upwardly towards the top of the plates and then may flow down through the small passage 89 between the plates and the wall 90 of the stock supply passage. The uppermost point of the-blade 88 is just slightly below the stock level 86. The plates 88 are welded to the common connecting or carrying member iii in the same manner as in the construction illustrated in Fig.2. The connecting member 9| is-mounted on a series of rubber blocks 92 which arecarried by a support 93. Between the walls of the support and the sides of the connecting member 9i are thick yielding rubber strips 94 which permit movement of the blades in the direction of the length of the series while maintaining a seal against the entrance of liquid into the chamber 95. Similar rubber strips are arranged at opposite ends of the connecting member 9! and between it and the side walls of the stock supply passage, and sponge rubber filler pieces may be arranged at the outer sides of the end plates as in the construction shown in Figs-1 and 2. Vibratory movement is imparted to the rod 86 in the same manner as in the constructions illustrated in the other figures, in order to vibrate the plates 88 and thus separate the individual fibers from one another tion, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a papermaking machine, aflow. passage for supplying stock to a forming wire, a series of spaced vertical plates extending across said passage with the plates extending parallel to the stock flow and in a zone just ahead of the posi-. tion of engagement of the stock with the forming wire, a common connecting means at one side of said series rigidly attached to only one side edge of each of said plates, the projecting portions of the plates being unsupported and the terminal edges of the plates remote from said connecting means being located just within the limits of the body of stock flowing past said plates and the upstream edges of said plates extending at a small angle to the direction of stock flow towards the plates to prevent fiber lodgement, resilient filler pieces between the outer sides of the plates at the ends of said series and the adjacent portions of said flow passage and substantially copassage with the plates extending parallel to the stock flow and in a zone just ahead of the position of engagement of the stock with the forming wire, a common connecting means at only one sideof said series attached to only one side edge of each of said plates, sealing means extending between said connecting means and the portions of the flow passage adjacent thereto, the terminal edges of the plates remote from said connecting means being located just within the limits of the body of stock flowing past said plates and the upstream edges of said plates extending at a small angle to the direction of stock flow towards the plates to prevent fiber lodgement, resilient filler pieces between the outer sides of the plates at the ends of said series and the adjacent portions of said flow passage and substantially coextensive with the end plates of the series, means supporting said connecting means for movement transversely of the direction of stock flow past said plates, and means for reciprocating said plates transversely of the direction of stock flow.

past said plates.

3. In a papermaking machine, a flow passage for supplying stock to a forming wire, a series of spaced vertical plates extending across said passage with the plates extending parallel to the stock flow and in a zone just ahead of the position of engagement of the stock with the forming wire, a common connecting means at only one side of said series rigidly attached to only one side edge of each of said plates, the upstream edges of said plates extending at a small angle to the direction of stock flow towards the plates to prevent fiber lodgement, a support, rubber blocks on said support below said connecting means supporting said connecting means for movement transversely of the direction of stock flow past said plates, rubber sealing means between said connecting means and said support, resilient filler pieces between the outer sides of the end plates of said series and the portions of the flow passage adjacent thereto/and substantially coextensive with the end plates of the series, and means for reciprocating said plates transversely of the direction of stock fiow past said plates.

4. In a papermaking machine of the cylinder mold type, a flow passage for supplying stock to a forming wire and including a supporting wall, a series of spaced vertical plates extending across said passage with the plates extending parallel to the stockflow and arranged above said wall and projecting laterally from said wall into close proximity to the cylinder mold, a common connecting means at the bottom of said series attached rigidly to only the bottom edge of each of said plates and forming the sole support for said plates, compressible resilient filler pieces between the outer sides of the plates at the end of said series and the adjacent portions of said flow passage and substantially coextensive with the end plates of the series, and sealing means extending between said connecting means and said supporting wall, the upper edges of the plates being located just below the upper level of stock flowing past said plates and the upstream edges of said plates extending at a small angle to the direction of stock flow towards the plates to prevent fiber lodgement, means supporting said connecting means on said wall for movement transversely of the direction of stock flow past said plates, and means for reciprocating said plates transversely of the direction of stock flow past said plates.

HERMAN L. KU'I'IER. 

